24 July, 2013

CNN Breaking News

Russia has given U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden documents to allow him to leave the Moscow airport, where he has been holed up for weeks, Russian news media reported today.

This move comes eight days after Snowden applied for temporary asylum in Russia, where he arrived from Hong Kong after revealing sweeping U.S. electronic surveillance programs to the news media.

Last week, a Russian lawyer assisting Snowden said he would receive a certificate showing that the asylum request is under consideration and that the certificate would allow him to leave the airport's transit area legally and enter the rest of the country.

Since arriving at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport on June 23, Snowden had been unable to leave the airport's transit area because the United States revoked his passport. He faces espionage charges in the United States.